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John S. Bozick

E-Bike Writer & Reviewer

Originally from a small town in northeastern Ohio, John was eventually drawn elsewhere in the pursuit of self-actualization. What began as a creative background slowly shifted into the technical; John’s early interest in art led him to learn design, fabrication, and manufacturing techniques while attending the Art Institute of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. He applied his creative, mechanical, and critical thinking skills in various industries including fine art, orthotics, furniture and interior design, construction, etc. before arriving in his current position at Electric Bike Report. Bikes have been present to varying degrees throughout John’s life; as a teenager, he spent much of his free time on a Diamondback BMX, and during/following the pandemic, a secondhand Specialized trail bike offered a way to blow off steam. Writing has been similarly ubiquitous; a natural skill with the written word developed through formal education into a source of pride and passion. At Electric Bike Report, John uses his analytical mind, technical writing skills, and dry sense of humor to share the best e-bikes with the world!

Get to Know John S. Bozick

Certifications

  • Bachelor of Science, Entertainment Design

Favorite Style of E-Bike

City, All-Terrain, Hybrid Path

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Ride1UP Revv 1

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Juiced Bikes RipCurrent S

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Magnum Vertex

Hobbies

Cooking, Hiking, Camping, Gaming, and Traveling

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John S. Bozick

Best Commuter Electric Bikes 2024

Best Commuter Electric Bikes 2024

*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

The daily commute for an average person can be a lot of different things. It can be dozens of miles spent in a car each morning and evening; an hour or two on public transit a day; or a myriad of other things. So why can’t daily trip from A to B be spent on one of the top commuter electric bikes?

From powerful speedsters and long-haul pedalers to nimble and comfortable cruisers, the team at Electric Bike Report reviewed some of the best commuter e-bikes money can buy in 2024. We’ve compiled our favorites into a list to help you pick the right commuter e-bike for your needs.

E-bikes are changing the world’s relationship with bicycles for the better. They’re making the sport — and, more importantly, the mode of transportation — more accessible for more people, making bicycle commuting an increasingly popular choice among those who never considered it before. The commuter e-bikes included on this list will not just get you to your destination without sweating through your clothes, they’ll get you there quickly and have the battery capacity to cover far distances with ease. EBR’s team of experienced testers have put many of these commuter e-bikes on this list through their paces on our home roads and paths in southwest Utah, but some of these bikes were included on merit alone — their reputations and spec sheets were just too good to ignore.

Because commuting can mean so many different things depending on where you live and work (especially here in the U.S.), we’ve tried our best to stick to bikes designed with commuting as their best intended use. These bikes are primarily built for pavement, and their motor and battery systems were chosen with speed, efficiency and longevity in mind. If you’re looking for a lighter-duty commuter more at home in a bustling urban environment, check out our list of the best city and urban e-bikes — a category closely related to this one.

*Editor’s Note: Last updated April 22, 2024 with new picks for the best commuter electric bikes.

Our picks for the Best Commuter Electric Bikes of 2024

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Velotric Discover 2 Review, 2024 | The Most Feature-Rich Commuter E-Bike?

An Awesomely Comfortable and Customizable Commuter with Cool Tech and Style!

Velotric Discover 2 Review 2024
The Discover 1 marked Velotric’s 2021 debut in the e-bike market following a successful Indiegogo crowdfunding campaign. Now, three years and 5 additional e-bike models later, the brand kicked off its 2024 release schedule with the reimagined, second-gen Discover 2. We talk performance, features, upgrades, and more in this Velotric Discover 2 review!

Here at Electric Bike Report, the Discover 2 is what we refer to as a “city cruiser” that blends elements of a commuter and a Dutch-style cruiser. We found that the foundational elements of the bike were comfort and agility. The accommodating saddle, upright positioning, and swept-back handlebars felt comfortable and ergonomic, while the handlebars’ 680/700mm width and 27.5”x2.4” Kenda tires promoted responsive steering and cornering.

Velotric added a ton of function to that foundation; this is one of the most feature-rich e-bikes we’ve seen priced below $2,000. The Discover 2 includes appreciated staples like lights, a color LCD, and Bluetooth pairing with the Velotric app. It also sports turn signals, a cruise control function, and Apple Find My™ connectivity.

Even more, the Discover 2 offers an impressive degree of customization. Users can choose from 3 riding modes with 5 levels of pedal assist, select their maximum speed up to 28 mph, and even decide how the brake light functions when the levers are pulled.

We tested the bike’s speed, range, braking capability, and hill climbing power in our testing; continue to the full Velotric Discover 2 review below to discover how it performed!

*Velotric is offering Electric Bike Report’s audience $60 off when you use the promo code ebreportd2v1rv60 at checkout!

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Bern Brentwood Jr. Review, 2024 | A Helmet Kids Actually WANT to Wear?

A Cool-Looking, Low-Profile Youth Helmet That Makes Safety Fun

Bern Brentwood Jr. Helmet Review 2024

For kids, “cool” and “safe” are rarely synonymous, but the Brentwood Jr. helmet from Bern aims to change that. The helmet is made from a lightweight and low-profile “Zip Mold+” injected foam that keeps it from looking too big and bulky while still being safe. This Bern Brentwood Jr. helmet review covers all the details!

In addition to a slim design, the Brentwood Jr. comes in a variety of fun styles that I legitimately wish were available in Bern’s adult-sized models! Of course, it comes in classic color schemes like Black, White, Blue, and Grapefruit, but that’s just scratching the surface. We received the Metallic Silver Shark Bite print that ignited my inner child’s glee, and other prints are available including Blue Wing with a stylized Macaw design and Purple Tiger with retro-style stripes. These colors and patterns are unique to the Brentwood Jr., as Bern’s other youth-sized helmets feature their own fun designs.


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Sixthreezero Simple Step-Thru 500W Review, 2024

A Curvy, Cost-Friendly Cruiser with an Incredibly Low Step-Thru Frame

SixThreeZero Simple Step-Thru 500W E-Bike Review 2024
Just as the phrase “beach cruiser” evokes the warm feeling of summer sun and the scent of salt air, the words “Simple Step-Thru” in relation to an e-bike bring to mind relaxation, comfort, and accessibility. In this Sixthreezero Simple Step-Thru 500W review, we discuss the ride feel and real-world performance of this curvy, colorful cruiser.

In our testing, we found that the Simple Step-Thru lived up to its name; this is one of the “step-thru-iest” e-bikes we have ever seen! We found it incredibly easy to mount and dismount thanks to the bike’s wavy, remarkably low down tube, which brings its standover height down to a minimal 10.5 inches.

In our opinion, this makes the Simple Step-Thru suitable for aging riders with disabilities or limited range of motion – or those who want a simple and easy bike to get on and ride.

The bike’s reserved power was another aspect geared toward seniors or those who have not used a bike for years. With a 500W rear-hub motor, the Simple Step-Thru had power when it was wanted/needed, but in most cases its throttle and pedal assist system (PAS) felt modest and gradual instead of punchy and overpowered.

We appreciated the bike’s reserved nature, though some riders may prefer the ability to adjust its speed limits. Additionally, we found the bike’s motor engagement to be somewhat inconsistent.

Fans of beach cruisers will, however, find many characteristic features present on the Simple Step-Thru, including a relaxed and comfortable riding position. With a thick, cushioned saddle, wide handlebars, and upright positioning, we found the bike to be thoroughly comfortable and enjoyable to ride.

Keep reading our full Sixthreezero Simple Step-Thru 500W review below!

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23 Things We Want Manufacturers to STOP Doing On E-Bikes

23 Things We Want Manufacturers to STOP Doing on E-Bikes
As e-bike reviewers for Electric Bike Report, my fellow office-mates and I have the extreme joy and privilege of testing bikes of all sizes, styles, and speeds. From big, beefy fat tire bikes to nimble, lightweight city bikes to functional, folding bikes and beyond, this broad base grants us a unique perspective on the industry. More specifically, what works – and what does not. In this article, I will discuss the 23 general and specific things we want manufacturers to stop doing on e-bikes.

Like any other field, the e-bike industry is constantly evolving as technology becomes more affordable and new brands/technologies appear. It is a regular occurrence for a new bike to redefine what is possible at a certain price point. Once this innovation occurs, competitors must keep up with the changing times or risk becoming old news.

As such, many of the changes we wished to witness two years ago have already come to pass. Likewise, 12-24 months in the future, any number of the points discussed in this article might naturally become irrelevant without our efforts to address them.

As industry advocates, however, we take pride in helping to direct the flow of progress. The following perspectives are based both on our personal experiences as well as the opinions of our readers and viewers.

Our goal with this article is not to debase any particular bike or brand, but to encourage broad, beneficial growth in a direction that improves the ride experience for all users. By making e-bikes more enjoyable and appealing, we hope to encourage more motorists to ditch two of their wheels and take up pedaling.

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Best Mid Drive Electric Bike 2024

Best Mid Drive Electric Bikes 2024

*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

The best mid-drive e-bikes and hub-drive e-bikes give riders a surprisingly different riding experience. With one, you only need to work as much as you want. With the other, you’re involved. It’s a little more complicated – but think automatic vs. stick shift.

The difference between the two types of motors comes down to how information is fed to the controller. With hub-drive e-bikes, a cadence sensor (usually with 12 magnets) picks up a signal that the pedals are turning and relays that message to the controller. It’s a binary process: either the pedals are turning or they are not. If the pedals are turning, then the motor starts. And when the pedals stop turning, the controller tells the motor to halt after a slight delay, usually about a second later.

Mid-drive motors use a torque sensor to judge when to turn the motor on and off. (There are also an increasing number of e-bikes with hub motors that are speccing torque sensors.) Instead of a yes/no question, torque sensors detect something more complex: how much pressure is on the pedals?

The fundamental difference means that e-bikes with mid-drive motors behave differently. First, the moment a rider pushes down on a pedal, the motor springs to life. Power addition and subtraction come in proportion to the rider’s effort. Furthermore, the proportion of power applied is determined by which PAS level the rider has selected.

The upshot is that a mid-drive e-bike makes the e-bike experience more seamless, more cyborg, as if the machine were telepathic. It also means that the rider is going to have to work harder to go faster; a Class 3 mid-drive e-bike won’t go 28 without the rider making some real effort.

We’ve tested a myriad of e-bikes with mid-drive motors, and have selected a handful of options that we consider to be the best. Whether you want a relaxed city cruiser or a tough and active trekking bike, look no further for the best mid-drive electric bikes!

*Editor’s Note: Content updated April 8th, 2024 with updated picks for the best mid-drive electric bikes.

The Best Mid-Drive Electric Bikes 2024

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Ride1UP LMT’D V2 Review | A No-Nonsense, All-Purpose E-Bike For All

Sweet Simplicity: This Commuter E-Bike is Straightforward, Practical, and Fun!

Ride1UP LMT’D V2 E-Bike Review 2024
Many of the e-bikes we’ve reviewed here at Electric Bike Report offer a variety of specialized features; phone mounts, electronic horns, high/low beam headlights, etc. The Ride1UP LMT’D V2, on the other hand, keeps things basic but functional. In our review, we discuss the real world performance of this simple but seriously effective commuter!

The first thing that stood out to us about the LMT’D V2 was its analog feel. With a torque sensor, its motor adapted proportionally to our effort up to certain limits. As it shipped, four of the bike’s five pedal assist settings were limited to half or below of the motor’s potential output, so in most cases we found the ride to be reserved and natural.

Another benefit of this conservative programming was great range! With limited output, the LMT’D’s 750W rear-hub motor consumed the charge of the removable 48V, 672 Wh battery slowly. Ride1UP advertises a range of 30-50 miles, but we were able to exceed both figures in our tests.

Due to its simplicity, our group consensus was that the LMT’D V2 is just a good bike without trying to be anything more. It does, however, have its flaws. We appreciate the absence of too many bells and whistles, but we were surprised by its absence of brake lights. And like many of the brand’s e-bikes, the LMT’D’s sizing is on the small side, which may leave riders in the 6’ range feeling slightly cramped.

Our full Ride1UP LMT’D V2 review continues below!

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Best Electric Bikes For Heavier Riders 2024

Best Electric Bikes for Heavier Riders 2024

*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

For heavier riders, finding the best e-bike that can accommodate a larger body size may be a challenge, as many e-bikes on the market have relatively low weight capacities. In this list of the Best Electric Bikes for Heavier Riders, we share our picks from reputable brands, each of which are built to handle a larger amount of body weight.

As part of the design process, every e-bike is engineered to carry a specific maximum weight limit, but this number is not always clearly stated by the manufacturer. It can get even more confusing for prospective buyers when different terms are used, either separately or in conjunction – such as maximum rider weight and total payload capacity. Each of these figures is useful, but only when they are understood in context.

Maximum rider weight is relatively straightforward – this is the amount of weight that the saddle and seatpost can safely carry, and it includes not only body weight, but any additional load such as a backpack. Total payload capacity refers to the maximum amount of weight an e-bike can accommodate – this includes maximum rider weight, but also accounts for the capacity of any included or optional cargo racks. These, too, have their own weight limits which may be stamped on their structural members or listed on the brand’s webpage.

According to the Center for Disease Control, the average weight for US males is approximately 200 lbs, while the average for females is about 170 lbs. Most e-bikes can accommodate these averages, but as rider weight increases and any additional cargo is added, the pool of capable models decreases significantly. For this list of the best electric bikes for heavier riders, the reviewers at Electric Bike Report selected options with maximum rider weights and/or total payload capacities over 250 lbs – and often much higher.

On the hunt for Black Friday savings? Make sure to click the pricing links or visit our Black Friday E-Bike Deals page for more information on the latest Black Friday deals.

*Editor’s Note: Updated April 1st, 2024 to update the picks for the best electric bikes for heavier riders.

Our picks for the Best Electric Bikes for Heavier Riders of 2024

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Best Folding Electric Bikes 2024

Best Folding Electric Bikes 2024

*Electric Bike Report aims to help consumers find the right electric bike for their needs. When you buy a product we recommend, we may earn a commission.

Folding e-bikes are all the rage in Europe, where space comes at a premium, and many commuters rely on public transit for at least a portion of their daily round trip to and from the office. Here in the US, we have the luxury of larger living areas, an abundance of storage space, and frequently, our own automobiles to handle the daily commute. So why would we need to concern ourselves with finding the best folding e-bikes?

In short, because of their versatility! The collapsible nature of folding electric bikes allows them to take up less space in a garage, be transported in a car or SUV without the need for a bike rack, or come along in the RV on a family road trip. Even if the folding aspect of a bike is only used occasionally, it’s a convenience that makes a difference when you find yourself in a pinch!

While there are often some tradeoffs between folding e-bikes and their fixed-frame cousins, the differences are often minimal. These days, folding bikes regularly include fat tires and suspension forks to handle off-road riding, cargo racks for hauling gear or passengers, powerful motors for climbing hills and reaching Class 2 or Class 3 speeds, and great brakes with effective stopping power.

After riding and testing a myriad of folding e-bikes, the reviewers at Electric Bike Report have selected their favorites from among them. We hope this list of the best folding electric bikes helps you to find a model that fits your needs and budget!

*Editor’s Note: Updated April 1, 2024 to update picks for the best folding e-bikes.

Our picks for the Best Folding Electric Bikes of 2024

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Rad Power Bikes Radster Road Review, 2024

A Peppy, Powerful, and Responsive Commuter with New Safety and Security Tech!

Rad Power Bikes Radster Road E-Bike Review 2024
As the first new model in Rad Power Bikes’ lineup since 2022, the Radster marks the next stage in the brand’s evolution. With two configurations, the Radster Road sticks to its roots as a commuter, while the Trail version adopts an off-road approach. In our Rad Power Bikes Radster Road review, we put the sporty asphalt-only version to the test!

One of the major differences between this new generation of Rad bikes and the company’s previous models is a more powerful, far more responsive motor. The Radster Road’s 750W rear hub relies on a torque sensor to engage, which allows it to adapt its output to match the rider’s effort. In our experience, this made for a smooth, natural feeling ride. The upgrade to 100 Newton-meters of torque also gave the bike fast acceleration and plenty of oomph.

To alleviate any potential concerns about its battery and electrical system, the Radster Road is both UL 2271 and UL 2849 certified. Rad also raised the bar for safety in the industry by using a “potted” battery pack, wherein the individual cells are sealed and surrounded by a heat-resistant resin to reduce the likelihood of thermal runaway.

We were thrilled about all of the Radster’s upgrades, but we were also relieved to note that it still had the heart and soul of a Rad Power bike. Here at Electric Bike Report, we have maintained the opinion that Rad makes some of the most dependable, safe, and well-put-together e-bikes in their price range; these things are often suggested by our test data, but more apparent in feel alone.

With that in mind, we identified some aspects of the bike that certain potential buyers should consider. We found the riding position of the Road to be somewhat awkward with its styling/geometry and Dutch-style handlebars – though the Trail version felt great. Additionally, while we think the bike is well-suited for seniors, its weight of 78 lbs (including the battery) is relatively heavy when compared to other commuter e-bikes we have tested. We think the Radster’s benefits far outweigh its cons, however, as its overall feel and performance exceeded our expectations.

Our full Rad Power Bikes Radster Road review continues below.


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